Pattern mechanism for knitting machines



May 3, 1938.

, L. H. LEEDHAM 2,116,074 PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 3, 1938. L. H. LEEDHAM PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan; 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 3, 1938. L. H. LEEDHAM 2,116,074

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 24, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATE ATENT OFFICE PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Application January 24, 1935, Serial No. 3,236 In Great Britain February 8, 1934 4 Claims. (01. 66-50) This invention consists in improvements in or relating to pattern mechanisms for use in knitting machines and is applied to a mechanism of this nature comprising a perforated pattern sheet 5 or other pattern, and a plurality of selectors arranged to respond to the markings of the pattern to control a knitting effect, for example, by selection and control of the needles. Such apparatus may be used for purposes other than that of needle control as, for instance, for the control of reverse plating mechanism or wrap thread patterning devices and is not limited to any particular use for which it may be employed.

Hitherto such mechanisms have not been applicable to the finest gauge machines for several reasons of which the most important are (a) The selectors of, for example, pattern mechanisms of the type here illustrated have hitherto generally been provided with selector pins. and encircling compression springs with guides provided in selectors for the pins. Thus the closeness of the selectors is determined by the diameter of the pin guides or recesses in the selectors together with the necessary clearance for those elements at the positions of the pins.

(1)) Frequently selectors must be bent or otherwise ofiset at one or more points along their lengths, thus requiring excess lateral space. For example, in a circular knitting machine the platens over which the pattern sections of pattern mechanisms of the type here shown are guided are straight and usually arrangedtangentially with respect to the needle cylinder, whereas the group of selectors controlled from any one platen must converge at their inner ends on to a circular line parallel to the circumference of the needle cylinder. Consequently it is necessary for some or all of the selectors to be bent at one or more points along their lengths. Only a very small movement, lengthwise of. such selectors, is permissible for any individual selector relatively to its neighbour owing to the existence of the angles at the bends. To obtain the requisite movement hitherto the selectors have been necessarily spaced apart laterally a distance which renders the mechanism unsuitable for the purpose of fine patterning by needle selection in the finer gauge machines.

According to the present invention the first drawback is overcome in a mechanism of the type specified by the provision for the selectors of a feeler element composed of thin strip material. Conveniently, the feeler element is in the form of a lever (e. g. a bellcrank) pivoted intermediate its ends to the selector.

In a preferred example there is a springtencling always to urge the feeler extremity in a direction. towards the pattern sheet and the combination is characterized in that a slot is formed in one of the two above-mentioned elements to provide an opening at one end for the entry of a pivot pin supported in the other element. The slot at its opposite end extends in a direction transverse to (e. g. substantially normal to) the resultant of the force of the spring tension acting on the feeler and the resistance to movement of the latter when it engages the pattern sheet. Conveniently the slot is formed inwardly from one edge of the feeler.

The invention is also designed to overcome the second drawback, i.,e. it permits the use of a larger number of bent or otherwise oiiset selectors within a given lateral dimension. To this end alternate selectors have those portions of them at which offsetting occurs disposed at dif- H ferent levels. Thus the latter dimension required for a group of selectors is reduced; in the example referred to above, one selector can be moved longitudinally relatively to its neighbour without engagement between bends of neighbouring selectors. So far as this feature is concerned therefore the controlling factor as to the fineness of gauge resides in the distance between a selector and that which is next but one to it instead of as hitherto between adjacent selectors. As a consequence, so far as this feature alone is concerned, it would be possible to employ at least twice as many selectors in the same space as heretofore.

The two main features of the present invention, as set forth above, may be employed singly or in conjunction with one another and in order, that the invention may be more clearly understood a preferred example will now be described,

in which both features are applied to one and the same pattern mechanism as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a section in a plane containing the axis of a circular knitting machine showing those portions of the latter and. of the pattern mechanism sufficient for the understanding of the invention,

Figure 2, on an enlarged scale, is a plan of some of the selectors illustrated in Figure 1 showing their relative arrangement,

Figure 3 to the same scale as Figure 2 illustrates a detail of the feeler for a selector,

Figure 4 one still larger scale shows a view seen in plan looking from above in Figure 3 of the slot formation in the selector,

Figure 5 shows in elevation on a still larger scale the feeler alone,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 of a modified arrangement but illustrating only portions of the selectors and the associated pattern sheet and platen,

Figure 7 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig ure Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the position of a feeler that has not entered a perforation in the pattern sheet, and

Figure 9 is a view on an enlarged scale similar to Figure 4 showing the slotted portion only of a selector.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the needle cylinder is indicated at I with needles II and associated needle jacks II2 slidable in tricks therein. The cam box I2 is of usual construction and will be rotated in any known manner relatively to the needle cylinder and synchronously with the cam box there will be rotated a cam carrier I3 which has a raising cam I4 for the selectors. All such parts are of known construction and consequently require no further de scription herein.

Supported from the frame of the machine in brackets I5 there is a plurality of platens arranged at intervals tangentially with respect to a circle coaxial with the axis of the needle cylinder and one of these platens is indicated at I6. As usual, this platen or roller has formed in it a number of spaced longitudinal grooves some of which are indicated at H. A perforated pattern sheet I 8 passes over the platen I6 and is formed with a number of lines of perforations which register successively with the grooves I! as they are brought step by step beneath feeler pins I9 of the selectors 26, 2i. As is customary with the type of apparatus illustrated, the inner ends of the selectors, adjacent the needle cylinder, lie in substantially the same plane as the outer ends of the selectors or in substantially parallel planes. The platen I6 is racked round step by step in the usual manner in the direction of the arrow in Figure l by known mechanism and in synchronism with the rotation of the cam box I2 and cam I4 so that for each pass of the latter a fresh line of perforations will have been brought beneath the feeler pins I9 and the selectors whose pins have been selected will have been moved by engagement with the grooves I'I towards the needle cylinder and beneath their respective jacks II2.

Each of the feeler pins I9 is at the extremity of a feeler plate 22 composed of thin strip material, laid flatwise as it were to the side of the selector, and having an upper horn 23 to which is anchored one end of a tension spring 24, the other end of which is anchored to a hook or nose 25 formed integral with the rear end of the selector. Each feeler is received within a slot 26 formed in the body of its selector and this slot is constituted by pressing out portions 21 and 28 of the material of the selector as shown clearly in the drawings. For this purpose the material of the selector is cut by the necessary slits to provide an interposed portion or embossment 29 to afford a stop to limit the movement of the feeler plate 22 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. A pivot pin 30 about which the feeler plate 22 can rotate is secured to the lower part of the pressed out portion 21. The feeler plate has a slot 3| cut inwardly into it from a substantially vertical edge which faces the needle cylinder and this slot is, as shown most clearly in Figure 5, inclined downwardly from its open end. The direction of the slot will be normal to the resultant of two forces passing through the axis of the pivot pin and consisting of the upward pressure on the feeler pin I9 when it is pressed on to the surface of the pattern sheet as shown in Figure 3 and the pull of spring 24 which normally tends to press the feeler pin I9 on tothe pattern sheet and into and through a perforation in the latter when sucn a perforation is brought into register with the feeler pin.

By this construction a feeler plate 22 can readily be inserted in position by sliding its upper end upwardly through the slot between the portions 21 and 28 of the selector and then passing the slot on to the pivot pin 30 and the resultant of the two forces above mentioned will always tend to hold the feeler plate correctly mounted on the pin. An advantage of this construction is that a damaged feeler plate can be readily replaced without first having to remove a pivot pin. Preferably the pivot pin is provided with an enlarged head 32 which will terminate in a plane lying within that in which the outer surface of the pressed out portion 28 will lie. Alternatively, the feeler plate dimensions and/or the dimensions of the pressed out portions 21 and 26 could be modified so that the feeler pin is passed through both portions 21 and 28 and secured therein.

As shown in Figure 2 each selector is offset by bending at 33 and 34 and in accordance with this invention the selectors are of two forms, one of which alternates with the other in each group of selectors associated with a platen. One of the selectors throughout the length of it which embraces the two bent portions 33 and 34 extends at a level of the selector 20 shown in Figure 1, I

whereas the adjacent selector will have that portion raised to the height of selector 2|. As the selectors 23 and El alternate with one another the endwise movement permissible at the offset portions will be twice that which would have I been permissible had all the selectors been arranged at the same height throughout their lengths. The raised selector 2I terminates in a head portion 35 which at its extremity 36 will register with the similar extremity of the adjacent selector. Both these extremities are formed with slots 31 with which to engage the active edge of cam I l. The latter entering the slot, therefore, prevents any retraction of the selector until it has passed from engagement with the cam. In chain lines in Figure 1 one selector such as 20 is shown in an active position to engage beneath and raise a needle jack I I2 together with its associated needle II and to do this its associated feeler pin I9 will have been engaged in a groove I1 and will have been moved forwardly by a partial rotation of the platen I6. On the other hand the neighbouring selector 2I is shown in chain lines as not having been thus selected and moved with a consequence that although it is raised by the cam l4 it has not passed beneath a jack II 2 and consequently it will not raise a needle. The operation of the jacquard mechanism in this respect, however, is well understood and of itself constitutes no part of the present invention.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 the formation of the selectors so far as their lengths including the bent portions are concerned is the same as that of the previous example. In

the construction according to Figures 6 to 9, however, instead of forming a slot for reception of the feeler plate by pressing out portions of the material of the selector itself, a cover plate 38 of thin spring steel is now spot-welded or otherise attached to the body of the selector to afford the necessary slot for reception of the feeler plate H22. The pivot pin I39 is now secured at its two ends between the cover plate and the body of the selector and is subject to the disadvantage, namely, that when it is required to replace a feeler plate I22 it will be first necessary to remove the pivot pin its and thereafter to insert the new feeler plate and a new pivot pin. An abutment I29 to limit clockwise movement of the feeler plate I22 is provided by a tongue pressed out from the material of the cover plate 38 and slot 39 is formed in the cover plate to expose a comparatively large portion of the feeler plate I22.

In both examples the position of the pivot 38 and ltd is such that for the small movement required by the feeler plate its feeler pin it and i It is substantially normal to the surface of the pattern sheet. Both constructions result in a relatively small lateral dimension of that part of the selector which encloses the feeler plate, this dimension being considerably smaller than the corresponding dimension of similar parts of pattern mechanisms hitherto known which employ the spring-pressed circular pin referred to at the commencement of this specification.

It is obvious that in the drawings only a few of the selectors have been illustrated in association with the pattern roller but it is to be understood that any desired number may be employed and any preferred number of groups of platens and their associated parts may be employed spaced in any preferred manner around the axis of the knitting machine.

It will be appreciated that instead of forming the slot such as 3! in the feeler plate itself the slot could have been formed in a wall such as 21, 28, or 38 or in two opposed walls and the pin itself could have been secured to the feeler plate to enter such a slot or such opposed slots.

It is also within the invention to form those portions of the selectors in which offsetting occurs at more than two different-heights. For instance, another series of selectors could have the portions mentioned disposed below the level of the selectors such as 2!] in which case three different kinds of selectors would be employed.

In general, my invention is not limited to the constructions herein illustrated and described, except as appears hereafter in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a pattern mechanism, a pattern, a selec tor extending therefrom to transmit the calls thereof, one edge of said selector being in juxtaposition to the pattern, a feeler lever composed of thin strip material located fiatwise to the selector, said lever being pivoted to the selector intermediate the ends of the lever and with one of said ends projecting beyond said edge of the selec tor to engage the pattern and the other end projecting toward the opposite edge of the selector,

"and a spring to urge the first mentioned end of the feeler lever toward the pattern, one end of spring being connected to the selector and the other end of the spring being connected to the second mentioned end of the feeler lever.

2. In pattern mechanism, a pattern, a selector, a feeler lever composed of strip material pivoted intermediate its ends to the selector flatwise thereto, one arm of the lever being adapted to engage said pattern as a feeler, and a spring anchored to said selector and engaging said lever to urge the said arm of the lever toward the pattern, said feeler lever and selector being provided one with a pivot pin and the other with a slot receiving the pivot pin, the slot extending in a direction substantally transverse to the resultant of the force of the spring acting on the feeler and the resistance to movement of the first mentioned lever arm when the latter engages said pattern.

3. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a pattern, a plurality of elements of the machine to be controlled by said pattern, and a plurality of selectors subject to the call of said pattern and to control the action of said elements, said selectors being movable substantially longitudinally of each other substantially individually and at least some of said selectors having offset portions, characterized by the fact that adjacent selectors having offsets have portions adjacent their offsets disposed at different levels.

4. In a circular knitting machine, the combi nation of a pattern, a plurality of elements of the machine to be controlled by said pattern, and a plurality of selectors subject to the call of said pattern and to control the action of said elements, the ends of said selectors nearer said elements being arranged substantially in a group and the opposite ends of said selectors being arranged substantially in a group that is substantially parallel to the first mentioned group, and said selectors being movable substantialy individually substantially longitudinally of themselves and at least some of said selectors being bent at two points to converge their inner ends toward the axis of the machine, characterized by the fact that adjacent bent selectors have their portions between bends disposed at different levels.

LESLIE HERBERT LEEDHAM. 

